warfilmman
Head Administrator
Global user
Registered: 02-2005
Posts: 71
Karma: 1 (+1/-0)
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
War Hunt
War Hunt - 1962
As soon as this movie starts, you know it’s going to be different. The theme that plays is clearly a Korean choir singing some sort of haunting folk tune. This is not going to be another “flag waving” “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, introduction to a war film. The film is set in the very last days of the Korean War, Robert Redford is Loomis (in his debut) a new recruit joining a squad of veteran GIs. One of them; Endor (John Saxon) has been going out on solo night patrols bringing back the Captain positions of Chinese troops. What is clear to everyone is that Endor is more than a little crazy. Clearly the Captain is turning a blind eye to Endor’s weirdness to achieve results. However it’s Endor’s effect on Charlie a Korean orphan that disturbs Loomis, the boy is hero worshiping a man who enjoys killing for killing’s sake. Then a ceasefire is announced and while everyone else celebrates the end of the war, Endor goes off on another patrol jeopardising the security of the ceasefire.
This is not a battle film, the only battle sequence is seen merely as a frightening experience for Loomis, and the film is really about the men fighting there. Except Endor they are ordinary Joe’s waiting for the war to end, Endor though is useful as a psychopath only while hostilities continue. A similar character is shown in Hell is for Heroes, made the same year, but Steve McQueen’s “nut” is just one of many widely different personalities in the movie, and dies a hero, which Endor doesn’t. Redford is convincing in his debut and the director Sydney Pollack is good along with Gavin “Loveboat” Macleod, and Tom Skerrit as other soldiers.
|
|
2/12/2005, 2:55 am
|
Link to this post
Send Email to warfilmman
|
